Florida roofing contractor exposes workers to dangerous fall, other hazards at Jacksonville work site; OSHA proposes more than $212K in penalties

Employer name: Carlson Enterprises

Inspection site: 1506 Rivergate Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32223  

Citations issued: OSHA issued four citations to the employer on Sept. 22, 2016.

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations to Carlson Enterprises for two willful, one serious and one other-than-serious violation. OSHA initiated the inspection as part of its Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction.

The agency issued the willful citations for the company’s failure to provide employees with a fall protection system when working at heights up to 9 feet and not ensuring employees wore eye protection equipment when using powered nail guns.

OSHA also issued a serious citation for not inspecting fall protection equipment for damage or other deterioration prior to using. The company received one other violation for not providing workers with personal protective equipment.

Proposed penalties: $212,629

Quote: “OSHA has cited Carlson Enterprises six times since 2012. Six of the inspections included repeated and serious citations for a lack of fall protection,” said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA’s area director in Jacksonville. “The employer’s disregard for worker safety is unacceptable. Management must take immediate action to protect employees from a serious injury or death.”

The citations can be viewed at: https://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CarlsonEnterprisesLLC_1135677.pdf

Based in Jacksonville, Carlson Enterprises specializes in residential and commercial roofing. The employer has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions; obtain compliance assistance; file a complaint or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities, or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency’s Jacksonville Area Office at 904-232-2895.